RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
Joe Pignatano is interviewed by Leo Cloutier in 1970.
Joseph Benjamin Pignatano (born August 4, 1929) is now a retired American professional baseball player and coach. The former catcher appeared in 307 games in the Major Leagues during all or part of six seasons (1957–62) for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers (1957–60), Kansas City Athletics (1961), San Francisco Giants (1962) and New York Mets (1962). He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). He is a Brooklyn native and lifelong resident of Brooklyn and Staten Island in New York City. He signed with his hometown Dodgers in 1948, and spent almost seven full seasons (interrupted by two years of military service) in their farm system before three brief auditions with the 1957 big-league team. He is the last living coach from the 1969 Mets.
In the 1961 season, the Kansas City Athletics (now the Oakland Athletics) and the New...
Kansas City Athletics vs New York Yankees - Radio Broadcast / In the 1961 season, the Kansas City Athletics (now the Oakland Athletics) and the New York Yankees had contrasting performances. The Yankees dominated the American League, setting a new standard for excellence, while the Athletics struggled and finished towards the bottom of the standings.
The New York Yankees, led by their iconic duo Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, were a force to be reckoned with. Both Mantle and Maris were on a historic chase to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. August was a pivotal month for the Yankees, as Mantle and Maris continued their home run battle. Mantle was dealing with injuries but managed to hit 9 home runs in August, bringing his season total to 44. Maris, however, was on fire and hit an impressive 13 home runs in August, reaching a total of 51 for the season.
The Yankees' overall dominance in the league also showed in their record for August. They won a majority of their games and solidified their position at the top of the American League standings.
On the other hand, the Kansas City Athletics faced a difficult season in 1961. They struggled with both their offense and pitching, leading to a disappointing performance throughout the year, including August. The team failed to gain momentum and remained near the bottom of the standings for most of the season.
